John 16: 29 Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Jesus is reacting to His disciples "finally" believing, miracle after miracle, intervention by God time after time, and deep life-changing wisdom from the Son of God. When Jesus began to speak plainly, everything became crystal clear and they quit questioning Him. They just had faith and that was it. The F word is such an important word and the F word is FAITH! How does this kind of faith react in a lost and dying world? This kind of Faith stands strong on the word of God!! Paul wrote to the chuRch at Ephesus about what it means to live this life of faith that separates us from the ways of the world. Ephesians 4:29 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
This is where we don't live from the standpoint of the world, but from the standpoint of our faith in Jesus who speaks plainly about the life we are to live and the faith that propels. Which brings to mind, Why the veiled curse words? In our walk of faith we walk out of a need to be accepted by the world and walk into a deeper, more holy lifestyle that glorifies God. I hear so many Christians trying to live on both sides of the fence and what good does that do for the witness of the gospel? The most prevalent word I have heard in our world, and it is worn out in movies, is the word F_ _ _. I only leave blanks for you to figure it out and you know the word because it is heard so much by all of us. Sadly, some Christians, even ministers have chosen to have their own version of the word by substituting the word Frickin for the above word, and they believe it is ok to say it. NOPE. That won't fly and the "heart" of the matter is where the whole argument falls apart and those people need to take it up with Jesus and He will speak plainly about what needs to happen.
When scripture says to guard your heart, it is also talking about guarding your mouth and compromises on this one F word will show the result is from compromises on the other F word Faith. Don't fight for compromising your faith. Fight the GOOD fight and God will bless and use you as a true witness in a world of compromise. In the above verses in John, Jesus tells His disciples, and us the same thing. 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
The time is here and the time is now to shed everything that is not of the Lord and pursue the righteousness He has so freely given to us. This freedom is not given to underwrite us compromising our witness and there are people who need to see Christians who live by their convictions that line up with the Word of God. Hebrews 12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up
Peter speaks to this pure way of living that is not judgmental toward others, but just lives in purity ourselves in 1 Peter 1:13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
Our minds will not be prepared for action if we compromise our witness and justify unwholesome words that should not be used, or the substitute words either. God calls us to live holy as He is holy. We are still sinners and God's grace is real and true, but the result of that should easily keep us from a life of compromised speech. Remember, The best F word is FAITH, and live in that word. The worst is the other F word or it's substitute, and both are wrong and need to be purged from our speech patterns. Jesus said this to "nail it down" for each of us in John 16:But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Today's Message,
David Warren
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